This review addresses the current building and construction marketplace, and the applications and potentials for a wide range of polymer materials, including bulk polymers, foams, FRPs, polymer concrete, and adhesives and sealants, with discussions of critical properties such as mechanical strength, weathering, permeability, flammability, and thermal conductivity. The review is technical, yet accessible to readers from a wide range of backgrounds.

From the Introduction: “...The purpose of this review is to outline the nature, culture and trends of the construction industry, introduce the main types of polymers used in building and construction, highlight the properties which make them a suitable choice of material and present several examples of their application. The report also introduces the main regulatory constraints on the industry.”

Rapra Review Reports contain a brief overview of the topic, followed by extensive references, with abstracts, from the Rapra database. They serve as condensed, valuable research tools for scientists, technologists, and other researchers working with rubber or plastics materials.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

The Building and Construction Industry

Key Properties

Applications of Bulk Polymers

Polymer Foams

Fibre Reinforced Polymeric Materials (FRPs)

Polymer Concrete

Adhesives and Sealants

Legislation

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Abstracts from the Polymer Library Database

Subject Index